Dream heroism
With “dream heroism” I stripped off my loose clothing and threw myself over the cliff to rescue her. At that moment, thankfully, I woke up with popping eyes, desert mouth, thumping heart, and a strange mixture of gratitude and regret.

Obviously I was thankful that it was only a dream, and that my daughter was warm and snug next door, rather than fighting for her life in a cold and deadly sea. I was also grateful that I was still alive; as I don’t think my daughter’s chances were much improved by my Superman impersonation.

Happy ending?
And amidst the gratitude, one regret – I’d like to have known if the dream had a happy ending. Did I reach the water or was I smashed on the cliff wall? Did I survive the 100+ mph water contact? Did I rescue my daughter? Did I win Superhero of the year?

But there was also that nagging question: in real life, would I really have jumped? Would I have calculated the risk, the probabilities, the chances of either of us surviving, and decided, “Eh, let’s phone 911!”

I mean, what if my daughter is maybe already dead. Even if I found her, could I get us both to shore? A bird in the hand is worth two in the sea, surely?

Will I? Won’t I?

Wide awake in the early morning, my mind drifted to the Lord’s Supper that I would soon be enjoying in a few hours time. I pondered Christ’s own heart and mind as from His heavenly vantage point He saw millions of sinners jumping over the cliff edge of sin, being smashed on the rocks of disobedience, drowning in the sea of guilt, and being carried away by the current of justice.

Will He? Won’t He?

Advantage Jesus
There’s no question is there? He will. He did. But there are two main differences between Jesus and me, apart from dream v reality.

First, unlike me jumping over the cliff in relative ignorance, Jesus jumped with full knowledge of every blow, laceration, pain, and sorrow that He would experience. Whatever terror I dreamed, His terrors were real and far worse. Yet, still He jumped.

Second, He knew that despite all the terrifying suffering He would endure in the rescue, He would succeed. What greater motivation to take the plunge into pain than to know that He would live; and that drowning sinners would live also.

That knowledge of certain success made Him all the more willing to endure the greatest pains. If an athlete knows that he’s certain to win gold, he’s more willing to push through the searing pain of the final bend to win. So, Christ’s assurance of ultimate victory enabled Him to push through the greatest pain and worst death ever, without which all of us would be sunk without trace.

The guaranteed rescue of millions, and the certainty of His own resurrection, made up the joy that was set before Him, as He despised the cross and endured the shame. With that sure knowledge He plunged, He sank, He fought the Serpent, He grabbed His drowning people, and swam to shore with every last one of them.

That’s how to turn a nightmare into a dream! And faith in Christ turns it into a reality.

The Volunteer (Lev. 1:3)
In token of this promise, and to seal it to his own conscience, he decided to bring a burnt-offering to the Tabernacle that day. He rose from his knees, went through the tent door, and started walking towards a small pen containing livestock. Every step was full of cheerful willingness. There was no reluctance nor compulsion, no formalism nor hypocrisy – simply the eager happy service of a believer who desired a closer walk with Jehovah. He went to “offer it of his own voluntary will.”

The Value (Lev. 1:3, 10)
Standing by the fence, he surveyed the few animals he possessed. What would he offer to express his devotion and surrender to God? His eyes passed over the handful of doves. “Too little,” he thought. He looked at his one bull. The flesh started lusting against the spirit, suggesting many reasons why he should not offer it this time. “Yes,” he reasoned, “I will reserve my bull for another day.” So, it had to be a sheep or a goat. Again, temptation started getting the better of him. “Remember that old, weak-looking sheep which has not been gaining weight?” suggested an inner voice. “No,” Baruch replied out loud. “If I want this to be a real turning-point in my spiritual life, I will offer my best lamb.” Looking at the possible options, the choice was clear.

The Transfer (Lev. 1:4)
Approaching the door of the Tabernacle, he paused. Turning to the lamb, he placed his hand on its head and confessed, “O Jehovah, I deeply regret my lukewarmness and half-heartedness in your service…I want to be wholly and completely yours…” As his tears began to flow, and his passion for God overflowed, his hand pressed ever heavier on the lamb’s head.

The Killing (Lev. 1:5)
Baruch dreaded this part of the ritual. He looked into the eyes of the lamb he had helped deliver into this world, the lamb he had fed and cared for, the lamb he treasured above all the others. “Must you die for me?” he whispered. As he took the knife and began to cut, he cried out with deep longing, “Oh, for the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world…and the need for all these sacrifices?”

The Sprinkling (Lev. 1:5)
Life drained from the lamb, the priest gathered the blood in a basin and sprinkled it on the altar, as Baruch repeated again and again, “Precious blood, precious blood, precious blood…”

The Flaying (Lev. 1:6, 9)
As Baruch dissected the carcass of the lamb and washed the various parts, his trained eye could see the value of each and every part more clearly. He wondered how the value of the ultimate sacrifice for sin would be measured and publicly displayed.

The Burning (Lev. 1:9)
The moment was always awesome and solemn. The priest used long forks to maneuver the body parts into the flames, stoking the fire higher and hotter.  Baruch watched entranced as the life of the lamb was turned to ashes in the fierce heat. “That should be me…that should be me…” he whispered.

The Blessing
As he left the Tabernacle, the image of the lamb consumed by the flames was burned into Baruch’s mind. That evening, he not only prayed for the Final Perfect Sacrifice, but also for what the sacrifice symbolized: whole-person devotion to God, “Lord, make me burn for you. Take all I am and have and use it for your glory” (Rom. 12:1).